Thursday, January 13, 2011

Mom's Scarf Update


I thought I'd give you an update on Mom's scarf.

You might remember that I started it a few days before Christmas. At that point I was going to knit a lovely pattern from the Yarn Harlot. I figured it would be pretty fast and I really loved the look of the finished scarf. And since Mom doesn't wear hats I thought the wrap around the head option might work for her.

Then I came to realize two things- 1. I probably liked this idea more than she would and probably should just be knitting it for myself. And 2. I wanted to give Mom something she couldn't (or really wouldn't) knit herself.

That's how I arrived at a cabled pattern. Mom could do it, but she's never attempted cables and I know she mostly likes to knit things that she doesn't have to pay such close attention to... which is not cabling!


You might also remember the... let's call it- challenges I had with the new pattern I chose. It was hard to accomplish what with being printed incorrectly and all.

Now I think the rough patches are through. And I'm hoping that her Christmas Present will be done by St. Patrick's Day. After that it's no longer scarf weather around here. And as everyone is quick to point out when I say that, "the yarn is green-ish and the pattern very celtic looking".


In all seriousness I hope to have it done long before then... but cables and I have a way of misunderstanding each other... keep your fingers crossed for me.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Hearts and Flowers Wreath... and a blizzard!


Today was the perfect day for crafting. This is the view from our deck door...


That's right this is the bottom of the window halfway up the on the door! And this is what the view off our deck looked like.


And while the blizzard raged on, I was cozy inside making this hearts and flowers "wreath".


Yesterday I showed you that I cut a foam base into a heart shape and mentioned that I was dyeing coffee filters.


I dyed about 50 filters I think, using neon pink food coloring.

I mixed the food coloring with a little water in a bowl. Curled up the filters into a flowery shape and dipped just the ends into the dye.



Since our stove has a pilot light (which always keeps it just a little bit warm) I placed batches of wet filters onto a wax paper lined cookie sheets and let them dry in the oven for about an hour.


The result was a soft graduated pink to white coloring.


Then I began filling my foam with the filters.


To do this I added a small dot of white glue to the bottom of the filter and used a small dowel (about the thickness of a pencil) to push it into the foam.


I filled and filled and filled the foam with my filters. Placing them pretty close together so the tightly packed ruffles looked like flowers.


Once the entire foam piece was covered I glued ribbon around the edge of the foam to cover the unfinished edge.


I also glued a loop of ribbon on the back to hang the wreath from. And since the back will be visible through the window on my door I traced the foam shape onto some brown craft paper and glued that onto the back. It's gives it a neater look than just having the foam.


And because it's still snowing I'll have to wait to show you how it looks hung on the door, but I I'm happy with the results.



Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Hearts and Flowers and Styrofoam Cutters


With the exception of Halloween (which is practically an all year affair around here) Valentine's Day seems to be the one holiday I'm never late for.

With other holidays it sometimes feels like I'm scrambling around getting all my crafty ideas a week or two before. Not Valentine's Day though! I think it's because January can be so bleak here in New England... after the post Christmas/New Years let down I'm just desperate for anything that isn't cold and snowy. Valentine's Day with it's light, airy, warm, pink, flower and candy spirit is the perfect solution.

Plus it's also about the time we finally get the house, decorations and holiday gifts all situated and I'm ready to play with my new crafty toys.


Which brings me to this styrofoam cutter. Purchased with a craft store gift card, and 50% coupon, it was something I've always wanted to try but could never really justify purchasing on a normal day.

The first cutting went ok, the formerly round styrofoam is now heart shaped and I've decided to make a wreath of sorts. (Don't mind the holes... I first used this to hold my cake pops.)


Now I'm in the process of dyeing a zillion coffee filters a delicate pink.


I'll show you how it all comes together, tomorrow I think. Provided I can get enough filters dyed and dried by then!

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